PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM

UNCLAS STATE 049237 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MNUC PARM PHSA PREL KNNP MO SUBJECT: PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM U/S ROOD TO MOROCCO REF: A. STATE 028996 ¶B. RABAT 000314 OBJECTIVES AND ACTION REQUESTS -------------- ¶1. Following the April 17 phone call from Acting U/S Rood to MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale to discuss Morocco's endorsement of the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles, below is an official U.S. invitation to the events we are hosting in Washington on the fifth anniversary of the President's announcement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). We would like Morocco to endorse the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles prior to the meeting so that it can be represented at all of these events. Our goal is for Morocco to provide a dip note endorsing the PSI, and then to participate in the May 28 Senior-Level Meeting for PSI participating states, as well as the May 29 PSI Outreach Workshop. The Moroccan delegation to the May 28 Senior-Level Meeting should be headed by an official equivalent to a Deputy Foreign Minister, who is involved in decision-making on nonproliferation policies. ¶2. Post is requested to deliver the invitation letter from Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John Rood to MFA Secretary General Omar Hilale and urge Moroccan participation in the PSI Fifth Anniversary events following endorsement of the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles. PDF copy of signed letter will be sent via email. ¶3. A PSI outreach demarche was transmitted to your Post on 20 March (Reftel A) to urge Morocco to make a definite endorsement of the PSI. The ref A sample diplomatic note should be provided in conjunction with the invitation letter, while noting that various options are available to express Morocco's official endorsement to include: announce endorsement in DC on May 28 at the PSI meeting; announce endorsement just prior to the meeting or during opening remarks; a joint announcement through press corps; or a combination of above options. Washington remains flexible on venue and format of any public endorsement. In the absence of endorsement, Morocco is invited to attend the second day of the event (PSI Outreach Workshop) only, as described in reftel A. ¶4. Post is also requested to be prepared to assist participant(s) from Rabat in obtaining any required U.S. visas on an expedited basis. If Moroccan officials indicate they cannot complete registrations by e-mail, please contact the POCs below and we will arrange for the registration forms to be e-mailed or FAXed to post to pass to MFA contacts. REPORTING DEADLINE AND POC -------------- ¶5. Post is requested to deliver the documents below to MFA as soon as possible and report delivery by April 30. E-mail reply is acceptable. Points of contact for the PSI 5th Anniversary events are Jane Purcell (202-647-6186, purcelja@state.gov) and Carlos Guzman (202-647-6320, guzmancs@state.gov). The Department greatly appreciates Embassy Rabat,s assistance. INVITATION LETTER -------------- ¶6. Begin text of PSI invitation letter from U/S Rood: Dear Secretary General Hilale: It is clear from our phone conversation on April 17 that our two countries share a strong commitment to nonproliferation and our continued cooperation in areas such as the Global Initiative has an important role in shaping security policy in the region. I believe this cooperation would be further enhanced through Morocco's endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). May 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of President Bush's announcement of the PSI in Krakow, Poland. Since that time, the PSI has achieved tremendous success and has become a key tool in our efforts to interdict shipments of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide. To that end, I want to invite you and other Moroccan government officials to attend the Proliferation Security Initiative Fifth Anniversary events of May 27-29, 2008, in Washington, DC. The focus of these meetings will be to review the Initiative's results and successes over the last five years and look at ways to continue strengthening the PSI for the future. Following a reception on the evening of Tuesday, May 27, I will chair a Senior-Level Meeting on Wednesday, May 28, open only to PSI endorsing states. As we discussed, some of these events are open only to PSI endorsing states. Your government's endorsement of the PSI by that date will enable you to participate in those meetings. We are flexible about the means for Morocco's endorsement, including a diplomatic note and/or public announcement. His Excellency Omar Hilale, Secretary General, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco, Rabat. Sincerely, John C. Rood Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security LOGISTICAL INFORMATION -------------- ¶7. Begin text of logistical information sheet for PSI 5th Anniversary Invitations: Logistical Information Sheet for PSI 5th Anniversary Events Registration: To register for any or all of the PSI 5th Anniversary events, begin by sending an e-mail to: PSIConf@qualitysupport.com . Use the subject line "(Name of Country) - Registration for PSI Fifth Anniversary" on your e-mail. Include in the e-mail the name of your country, your name, the name of the ministry or other government organization where you work, your e-mail address, and the names of each person you want to register to attend any portion of the events. The meeting organizer will then e-mail to you a link to the meeting registration form for each attendee. At the end of the registration form, there is a link to on-line hotel registration. If you do not have access to email, contact your local U.S. Embassy and provide a FAX number, and the registration forms can be faxed to you. There is no fee for these events. Visas: For countries where a U.S. visa is required, please submit the U.S. visa application form to your local U.S. Embassy as early as possible. You may contact your local U.S. Embassy for guidance or assistance with visa processing. Agenda and Structure: The PSI 5th Anniversary events will commence with a reception in the garden of the Hilton Washington Hotel (or indoors in case of inclement weather) from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, May 27. On Wednesday, May 28, the PSI Senior-Level Meeting will begin at 8:30 am (check-in and breakfast begins at 7:30 am) and will continue until 4:30 pm (tentative agenda attached). On Thursday, May 29, the PSI Outreach Workshop will begin at 9:00 am (check-in and breakfast begins at 8:00 am) and will continue until 5:30 pm (tentative agenda attached). Delegation size and composition: There are no specific limitations on the size of a country's delegation. We suggest countries be prudent in sizing their delegations sufficiently to support their head of delegation. We encourage broad participation by senior policy makers, ministry officials, and diplomats stationed in the United States. We ask that all participants be either involved in nonproliferation/export controls/interdictions or report the meeting results to those who do. Location: All PSI 5th Anniversary events will be held at the Hilton Washington Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20009. The Hilton Washington is located four blocks north of the Dupont Circle Metrorail station. Accommodations: The Hilton Washington was offering PSI 5th Anniversary participants the government rate of U.S. $201 per night per room plus 14.5% tax from May 24 - June 1, but these rooms were only being held open until April 28 and remain available only on a space available basis. On-line hotel registration can be completed either on-line at the website: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personaliz ed/DCAWHHH- PSI-20080527/index.jhtml, or by telephoning the U.S. number: (888)-324-4586 and requesting the rate for the PSI-State Meeting. The hotel's website includes information on directions, local transportation, and local attractions. Participants are responsible for their own accommodations costs. Meals: Appetizers, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served at the reception on the evening of Tuesday, May 27. The PSI meetings on May 28 and 29 will include continental breakfast, luncheon, snacks and beverages. Working language: The official working language during the events will be English. There will be no translation services. Personal interpreters for attendees must be registered as participants. Additional meeting room: One small meeting room at the hotel will be available for side meetings if requested. Weather: Late May in Washington offers a good probability of ideal temperature. Temperatures are likely to be between 60-85 degrees F (15-29 degrees C). Rain is possible at any time, including thunderstorms. Electricity: Electricity sockets in the United States are set at 110 Volts and 60 cycles, and fit electric plugs with two flat blades, with or without a third cylindrical grounding pin. Electrical appliances from outside the United States generally need a power converter and an adaptor for use in U.S. sockets. Point of Contact: The points of contact for the PSI 5th Anniversary events are: Jane Purcell, phone: 202-647-6186, e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov, and Carlos Guzman, phone: 202-647-6320, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov. End logistical information sheet. Tentative Agendas -------------- ¶8. Begin tentative agendas for PSI 5th Anniversary events: May 28 PSI 5th Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting: Draft Agenda 07:30 - 08:30 - Check-in, continental breakfast 08:30 - 08:45 - Welcome from Chairman 08:45 - 09:45 - Taking stock: the first five years of PSI 09:45 - 10:00 - Break 10:00 - 10:30 - Keynote address by senior USG official 10:30 - 12:00 - Looking ahead: continuing to strengthen PSI 12:00 - 12:15 - Break 12:15 - 1:15 - Luncheon address 1:15 - 3:00 - Efforts to strengthen international frameworks 3:00 - 3:15 - Break 3:15 - 3:45 - Expanding distribution of PSI information 3:45 - 4:15 - Discussion 4:15 - 4:30 - Closing summary by Chairman May 29 PSI Outreach Workshop: Draft Agenda 08:00 - 09:00 - Check-in, continental breakfast 09:00 - 09:30 - Overview of PSI 09:30 - 10:15 - Current proliferation threats and challenges 10:15 - 10:30 - Break 10:30 - 11:00 - The Operational Experts Group: working on behalf of all PSI partners 11:00 - 11:30 - The PSI exercise program 11:30 - 12:00 - PSI legal lessons learned 12:00 - 1:15 - Lunch 1:15 - 2:15 - Organizing for PSI 2:15 - 3:15 - Walk-through of an interdiction scenario 3:15 - 3:30 - Break 3:30 - 4:00 - How export controls support PSI 4:00 - 4:30 - Capacity-building for PSI partners (including UNSCR 1540 and available training assistance) 4:30 - 4:45 - Upcoming calendar of PSI events 4:45 - 5:30 - Q&A session End cable. RICE